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(A) The purpose of this chapter is to encourage security alarm users and alarm businesses (sales, installation, customer service, and/or monitoring) to maintain the operational reliability and the proper use of alarm systems in limiting unnecessary police emergency responses to false alarms.
(B) This chapter governs burglary, robbery, and panic systems, requires permits, establishes fees, provides for penalties for violations, establishes a system of administration, and sets conditions for suspension or loss of permit.
(Ord. passed 6-27-94)
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALARM ADMINISTRATOR. A person or persons designated by the Chief to administer, control and review alarm application, permits, and false alarm notifications.
ALARM NOTIFICATION. A notification intended to summon the police, which is designed either to be initiated purposely by a person or by an alarm system that responds to a stimulus characteristic of unauthorized intrusion. Multiple false alarm notifications in a 24-hour period of time shall be counted as only one F.A.N., when documentation is provided by the permit holder's alarm maintenance company that the alarm notifications were not as a cause of operator error.
ALARM REVIEW BOARD. Consists of one representative of the Police Department, two professionals from the alarm industry as well as two members of the public at large, appointed by the Mayor.
ALARM SITE. A single premise or location served by an alarm system or systems.
ALARM SYSTEM. A device or system that emits, transmits, or relays a signal intended to summon, or that would reasonably be expected to summon police services of the city, including but not limited to local alarms. ALARM SYSTEM does not include:
(1) An alarm installed on a vehicle unless the vehicle is permanently located at a site.
(2) An alarm designed to alert only the inhabitants of a premises that does not have a local alarm.
(3) Fire alarms.
AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIALING ALARM SYSTEM. Any automatic dialing device or an automatic telephone dialing alarm system shall include any system which, upon being activated, automatically transmits by telephone or telephone line to the Police Department a recorded message or code signal indicating a need for emergency response; or a system which, upon activation, connects to an answering service whose function it is to transmit to the Police Department dispatcher a need for emergency response.
CHIEF. The Chief of Police or an authorized representative.
FALSE ALARM NOTIFICATION (FAN). An alarm notification to the Police Department, when the responding officer finds no evidence of a criminal offense or attempted criminal offense. Excluded from this definition are:
(1) Alarms occurring during electrical storms, hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, and acts of God.
(2) The intermittent disruption or disruption of the telephone circuits beyond the control of the alarm company and/or alarm user.
(3) Electrical power disruption or failure.
(4) Alarms caused by a failure of the equipment at the communications center.
(5) Other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to contract by the permit holder.
FISCAL YEAR. The period of July 1 through June 30.
LOCAL ALARM. An alarm system that emits a signal at an alarm site that is audible from the exterior of a structure.
PERMIT HOLDER. The person designated in the application as required in § 93.03 of this chapter who is responsible for responding to alarms and giving access to the site, and who is responsible for proper maintenance and operation of the alarm system and payment of fees.
PERSON. An individual, corporation, partnership, association, organization or similar entity.
(Ord. passed 6-27-94)
(A) A person commits an offense if he operates or causes to be operated an alarm system without a valid permit issued by the Chief. A separate permit is required for each alarm system. (Optional medical or duress (panic) activation devices whether stationary or portable will be considered as part of a burglary system, and will be covered under a burglary permit which is in good standing.)
(B) Upon receipt of a completed application form and a nonrefundable permit fee of $30 for a new permit and $30 for annual permit renewal.
(1) Any alarm owned, operated, or leased by any federal, state, county or local government agency a permit may be obtained without the payment of a fee.
(2) If a residential alarm user is over the age of 65 and is the primary resident of the dwelling and if no business is conducted in the residence, a user's permit may be obtained without the payment of a fee.
(C) The Chief shall issue an alarm permit to an applicant unless the applicant has:
(1) Failed to pay the fee assessed under division (B) of this section.
(2) Had an alarm permit for the alarm site revoked, and the violation causing the revocation has not been corrected.
(D) Each permit applicant must include the following information:
(1) The name, address, and telephone numbers of the person who will be the permit holder and be responsible for the proper maintenance and operation of the alarm system and payment of fees assessed under this chapter.
(2) The classification of the alarm site as residential, commercial, or apartment.
(3) For each alarm system located at the alarm site, the purpose of the alarm system (that is, burglary or robbery).
(4) The date of installation or maintenance of the alarm system, whichever is applicable.
(5) Other information required by the Chief that is necessary for the enforcement of this chapter.
(E) Any false statement of a material matter made by an application for the purpose of obtaining an alarm permit shall be sufficient cause for refusal to issue a permit.
(F) An alarm permit cannot be transferred to another person. A permit holder shall inform the Chief of any change that alters any information listed on the permit application within five business days. No fee will be assessed for such changes.
(G) All fees owed by an applicant must be paid before a permit may be issued or renewed.
(Ord. passed 6-27-94; Am. Ord. passed 6-1-04; Am. Ord. passed 5-4-10) Penalty, see § 10.99
(A) The owner or property manager of an apartment complex shall obtain a master alarm permit from the Chief if any alarm system is operated in any residential unit on the premises, when the alarm system is furnished by the apartment complex owner as an amenity.
(B) A tenant of an apartment complex shall also obtain an alarm permit from the Chief before operating or causing the operation of an alarm system in the tenant's residential unit.
(C) For purposes of enforcing this chapter against an individual residential unit, the alarm permit of the tenant supersedes the master alarm permit of the apartment complex; and, the tenant is responsible for false alarm notifications emitted from the alarm system in the tenant's residential unit. The master alarm permit holder is responsible for false alarm notifications emitted from unoccupied residential units.
(D) The owner or property manager of an apartment complex shall obtain a separate alarm permit for any alarm system operated in a nonresidential area of the apartment complex, including, but not limited to common tenant areas and office, storage, and equipment areas.
(Ord. passed 6-27-94) Penalty, see § 10.99
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